Franklin School Dept. looks to hire new tech position

The School Department is requesting $30,000 to hire an additional technology specialist, saying the position will help with the transition into the new high-tech Franklin High School.

By Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Posted Oct. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 15, 2013 at 3:04 PM

By Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Posted Oct. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 15, 2013 at 3:04 PM

FRANKLIN

» Social News

The School Department is requesting $30,000 to hire an additional technology specialist, saying the position will help with the transition into the new high-tech Franklin High School.

Next fall when the school opens, the amount of classroom technology is expected to increase by 70 percent, school officials say. Each classroom features an interactive white board, document camera and sound system.

There also will be a marked increase in student devices. For instance, the library will have 400 netbooks — small, inexpensive laptops — available for students to check out.

"The coordination of all classroom and office technology is impressive and this includes all security and safety systems," Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski wrote Monday in an email. "An additional tech support person will be able to solve building problems as they arise, which will enable him to focus on the set up and design of the system."

With the Finance Committee having approved the request, the Town Council will vote on Wednesday whether to raise the funds. The position would be added to the fiscal year 2014 School Department budget.

Sabolinski hopes to give the district’s tech director, Timothy Rapoza, some help, as he has been busier lately with technology becoming ever more ubiquitous at the schools.

"Mr. Rapoza is the director of technology for both the town and schools — responsible for all tech in 11 schools, police, fire, Town Hall, the senior center, DPW, the library," she said. "With respect to the FHS project, he has collaborated with the school administration and the architects to design the systems that will be in place."

If the request is approved Wednesday, the School Department will look to hire someone by February or March, according to Sabolinski.

"The individual will need to be trained in Franklin Public Schools specific databases and software, which will be done by April," she said.